Gamertag Radio

Xbox recently announced XBOX XP, a new division focused on Xbox Pictures, Products, Places, and Partnerships. But what does this major announcement actually mean for content creators, influencers, and gaming communities?
In this episode of Gamertag Radio, Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña sit down with industry veteran Andy Lunique (aka Chef Andy, former games influencer marketing specialist) to break down the real-world impact of XBOX XP.
Topics covered in this episode:

XBOX Partnerships: How Xbox plans to collaborate with creators, brands, and communities beyond simple sponsorships.

The Evolution of Influencers: Moving from big-budget creator campaigns to micro and mid-tier community builders.

Third Places & Live Events: Bringing back in-person fan experiences, launch parties, and conventions like Xbox FanFest.

Leadership at XBOX XP: How former Mojang President Kayleen Walters' background spans both traditional media and gaming.

Building Real Communities: Advice for creators navigating content platforms in 2026 without burning out.

Follow the Guest:

Andy Lunique: andylunique.com

Connect with us:

Danny Peña

Parris Lilly

Pete Toledo

Riana Manuel-Peña

Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

Parris Lilly had the opportunity to check out Nintendo Switch Sports Resort at the Nintendo Holiday Showcase in New York City!
In this hands-on preview, I walk through my experience testing out both exploratory and competitive modes:

Island Exploration: Power cruising (wave racing), prop plane flying, and skateboarding with photo objectives

Competitive Modes: Thumb wrestling, archery, table tennis, boxing, and bowling

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort releases on October 22, 2026. Big thanks to Nintendo for inviting me out!

The whole crew is back! Danny Peña, Parris Lilly, and Peter Toledo sit down to catch up on the latest gaming news, hands-on impressions, community voicemails, and industry rants.  
First, the team listens to community voicemails touching on compassion during industry layoffs, Danny’s work with media outreach on major games, and accessibility options like difficulty modes in modern RPGs.   
Then, Parris gives a deep dive into Gears of War: E-Day running on PC. Sponsored segment details powered by NVIDIA GeForce showcase how DLSS 4.5, multi-frame generation, and ray tracing elevate the visual fidelity on RTX 50-series GPUs. Plus, the crew shares their thoughts on the return of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago.   
Next, Parris breaks down his experience at the Nintendo Holiday Showcase! Hear early impressions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Super Mario Minecraft running on the Switch 2, alongside a look at upcoming accessories and hardware.   
Finally, Parris rants about feature parity issues on the Xbox PC App before the team dives into a discussion on Project Helix, physical vs. digital game ownership, and why Bethesda’s release timelines for Fallout and The Elder Scrolls VI are taking way too long compared to studios like Remedy and CD Projekt Red.

In this episode of Gamertag Radio, Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña, a panel featuring clinician scientist & content creator, airiesummer, Teamwork CEO Lynetta Cunningham, and MediaWise interactive learning designer Sean Marcus discusses strategies for keeping young gamers safe online. The panel covers navigating age ratings, fostering open communication between parents and children, combatting toxicity, and leveraging video games as positive tools for mental wellness and informal learning.
This episode was sponsored by MediaWise. Want to win a $50 Visa gift card? Complete our quick survey to share your feedback about today's discussion, help shape future programs, and enter for your chance to win!

We sit down with Creative Director Matt Searcy and Art Director Aren Hamak at the Gears of War: E-Day event in Los Angeles to discuss bringing the franchise back to its darkest roots!   
In this interview, the team behind Gears of War: E-Day breaks down:The Fall of Kalona: 
- How the city evolves and crumbles as the outbreak unfolds.   
- Marcus & Dom’s Origin: Exploring their relationship following the Pendulum Wars.   
- Modernized Gameplay: Upgraded cover mechanics, new movement, and enhanced verticality built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.   Horror Roots: Turning up the scare factor, gore, and terror of the Locust swarm.   
- Bravo Squad & Lore: Introducing new characters and expanding on classic Gears lore with input from author Karen Traviss.   
Are you excited to experience the chaos of Emergence Day? Let us know your thoughts!
Connect with us:

Danny Peña

Parris Lilly

Pete Toledo

Riana Manuel-Peña

Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.